Door control mechanism



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/PuooL PH Z ScHoN/TZER ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 28, 1937 UNITED sTATEsPATENT oFFicE DOOR CONTROL MECHANISM Rudolph I. Schonitzer, ShakerHeights, Ohio Application August 20, 1937, Serial No. 160,025

27 Claims. (014292-216) This invention relates to door controlmechanism, the door control provided by the mechanism embodying suchinvention being a latch controha throw-out control or a combined latchand throw-out control, all as will hereinafter more fully appear.

Although thepresent invention is applicable for use with the doors ofvarious structures, such as with -the doors of refrigerators and withthe doors of various kinds of buildings, the present invention isparticularly applicable foruse with the doors of automobiles, inasmuchas mechanism embodying such invention preferably is of such characterthat it may be readily and conveniently associated with an edge wall ofsuch a door Without interfering in any way with the movable window panewith which such a door is provided, a window pane which is movable insaid door into close proximity with that section of the door edge wallwith which said mechanism is associated.

The present invention has for its general object the provision of doorcontrol mechanism which is of simple and inexpensiveconstruction; whichcomprises readily and conveniently assembled parts of strong and sturdycharacter; and which eiiiciently and positively provides the doorcontrol desired, whether that control be a latch control, a throw-outcontrol or a. combined latch and throw-out control, as heretoforereferred to.

A specific object of the present invention is the provision of simpleand inexpensive door control mechanism, for eiecting in an efficient andpositive manner, the releasable latching of a door in closed positionwhenever it is moved thereto and the un/latching of said door whendesired.

Another specific object of the present invention is the provision ofsimple and inexpensive door control mechanism, for effecting in anefiicient and automatic manner, the throwing of a closed door to atleast partially open position Whenever it is free for such openingmovement, such as upon the unlatching thereof, the extent of suchautomatic opening movement of said door being at least suflicient toenable the free edge portion of said door to be conveniently grasped tomanually eiect further opening movement of said door.

Another specific object of the present invention is the provision ofsimple and inexpensivek door control mechanism, for eiecting in anefiicient and positive manner, the latching and unlatching of a door andthe automatic throwing of such door to at least partially open positionupon the unlatching thereof.

Another specific object of the present inventionv is the provision ofsimple and inexpensive door control mechanism which includes improveddetent means for releasably detaining in operative position, when thedoor with which such mechanism is used is closed, the door control armmeans of such mechanism, said arm means being ready when in suchoperative position for door unlatching movement or door throw-outmovement or for both of such movements, as will hereinafter more fullyappear.

Another specific object of the present invention is the provision vofsimple and inexpensive door control mechanism which includes twomanually operable push members, such as push buttons, for the mechanicalactuation of the detent means of such mechanism and the consequentrelease of the door control arm means thereof when the door with whichsuch mechanism is used is closed, said push buttons being located onopposite sides of and normally being substantially ilush with said dooror with the adjacent body or frame structure. As ,a result, theactuation of said detent means and the release of said arm means may beeasily and conveniently effected from either the outer or the inner'sideof said door or said frame structure, and without the necessity ofproviding said door with the projecting and undesirable handles whicheven present day automobile door locks still require.

Another specii'lc object of the present invention is the provision ofsimple and inexpensive door control mechanism which includes an outsidekey-actuated lock for effectively preventing unauthorized operation ofthe outside push button of said mechanism and also, improved manuallyoperable inside restraining means for effectively preventing undesiredrelease operation of the detent means of such mechanism when the doorwith which such mechanism is used is closed. Therefore, by themanualoperation of either said outside lock or said inside restraining means,the two push buttons of such mechanism are renderedwholly ineffective torelease the door control arm means of such mechanism and henceineffective to bring about either the unlatching of said door or outwardthrowing or opening movement thereof, all as will hereinafter more fullyappear.

Further objects of the present invention and the nature of severalembodiments thereof, will be readily apparent from the followingdescription of the invention, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figs. 1 to 22 inclusive and Figs. 26 to 28 inclusiveillustrate latch and throw-out control mechanism embodying one form ofthe present invention, as used with a left-side automobile door, Fig. 1being an elevation of the outer side of such a door and an adjacentportion of the automobile body, the door being closed and latched;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the free edge wall of such door, from theoutside thereof, with the door control arm means of such mechanism inoperative position and with a portion of the automobile body above thedoor shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a detail cross-sectional view partly through the automobiledoor and body and showing one of the door-engaging bumper members withwhich the body is provided, the view being on the line 3 3, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the inner side of such closed and latched doorand two adjacent portions of the automobile body;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sec'- tional viewlongitudinally through portions of the automobile door and body, theview being on the line 5-5 of Figs. 2, '7, and 8, and the door beingclosed and latched and the inside restraining means of the mechanismbeing in restraining position;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view partly through the automobile door, theview being on the line 6-6, Figs. 6 and 8;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view through portions of the automobile doorand body, the door beingl closed and latched and the View being on theline 1 1, Figs. 5 and 8;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view transversely through a portion ofthe closed and latched door, the view being on the line 8-8, Figs. 5, 6,and 7, and the restraining means of the mechanism being in restrainingposition;

Figs. 9 and 10 are detail cross-sectional views through portions of theautomobile door, the

views being on the lines 9-9 and Ill-i0, Fig. 8, respectively;

Fig. 11 is a detail vertical sectional View transversely through aportion of the automobile door, the view being on the line II--I I, Fig.9;

Fig. 12 is a detail vertical sectional view longitudinally through aportion of the automobile door, the view being on the line |2-I2, Fig.8;

Fig. 13 is a. vertical sectional view transversely through theautomobile door, the view` being on the line I3-l3, Fig. 5, and showingportions of the inside restraining means of the mechanism;

Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view transversely through the automobiledoor, the view being on the line Ill-I4, Figs. 1 and 5 and showingportions of the inside manually operable means for the release actuationof the detent means of the mechanism;

Figs. 15 and 16 are detail cross-sectional views of the insiderestraining means of such mechanism, the views being on the lines I5-l5and lli-I6, Fig. 5, respectively;

Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the inside restrainingmeans out of restraining position;

Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but showing the parts of themechanism in the positions which they occupy when the automobile door isopen;

Figs. 19 and 20 are vertical sectional views of two means which may beused in manually pulling the automobile door from open to closedposition, the views being on the lines 9-8 and 2li-20, Fig. 4,respectively;

Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional view through portions of the automobiledoor and body, the view being on the line 2|-2I, Fig. 8;

Fig. 22 is a detail vertical sectional view, on the line 22--22, Fig.21;

Figs. 23 to 25 inclusive are views of a. combined push button andkey-actuated lock structure which mechanism embodying the presentinvention may utilize, Fig. 23 being an elevation of such a structureand a portion of the automobile door or body with which it may beassociated;

Figs. 24 and 25 are detail sectional views of such button and lockstructure, on the lines 24-2I and 25-25, Fig. 23, respectively;

Fig. 26 is an enlarged diagrammatic view of certain parts of themechanism of Figs. 1 to 22 inclusive, in which view certainrelationships of such parts are more clearly illustrated;

Figs. 27 and 28 are enlarged views, more or less diagrammatic in formand showing the movement of the door control arm means of the mechanismhere illustrated in the automatic throwing of an automobile door to atleast partially open position, the dooiin Fig. 27 being closed andlatched and the door in Fig. 28 'being partially open;

Fig. 29 is a view similar to Fig. 27 and showing a modified form of doorcontrol arm means;

Figs. 30 and 31 illustrate latch and throw-out control mechanismembodying a second form of the present invention, as used with anautomobile door, Fig. 30 being a vertical sectional view correspondingin part to Fig. 5 and showing only those parts of this second form ofmechanism which are necessary for a proper understanding thereof, andFig. 31 being an elevation of the outer side of that section of theautomobile door free edge wall which is shown in Fig. 30;

Figs. 32 to 35 inclusive illustrate latch and throw-out controlmechanism embodying a third form of the present invention, as used withan automobile door, Fig. 32 being a vertical sectional viewcorresponding in part to Fig. 5 and showing only those parts of themechanism constituting this third embodiment which are necessary for aproper understanding thereof;

Fig. 33 is a vertical transverse sectional view, corresponding to Fig. 8but showing the mechanism of this third form, the automobile door beingclosed and latched and the restraining means of the mechanism being inrestraining position;

Fig. 34 is a view corresponding in part to Fig. 33 but showing the partsof the mechanism of this third form in the positions which such partsoccupy when the automobile door is open;

Fig. 35 is a view correspondingfin part to Fig. 6 and showing only thoseparts of the mechanism of this third form which are necessary for aproper understanding thereof;

Figs. 36 to 41 inclusive illustrate latch and throw-out controlmechanism embodying a fourth form of the present invention, as used withan automobile door, Figs. 36 and 37 being views corresponding in part toFigs. 5 and 8, respectively, and showing only those parts of this fourthform of mechanism which are necessary for a proper understandingthereof;

Fig. 38 is a vertical sectional view of the inside push button and someof its associated parts, as used in the mechanism of this fourth form,the View being on the line 38-38, Fig. 36;

Fig. 39 is a vertical sectional view of parts of the inside restrainingmeans of this fourth form of mechanism. the view beingfon line SL48,

Fig. 36; and

Figs. 40 and 41 are detail cross-sectional views of this fourth form ofmechanism, the views being on the lines 40-40 and 4|-4|, Fig. 37,respectively; y

Fig. 42 is a detail vertical sectional view. corresponding in part tothe upper portion of Fig. 37 and showing'the rod finger directlyconnected with the detent member, as used when the inside push button ispositioned below said rod;

Figs. 43 to 46 inclusive illustrate latch and throw-out controlmechanism embodying a fifth formof the present invention, as used withan automobile door, Figs. 43 and 44 corresponding in part to Figs. 5 and8 and showing only those parts of this iifth form of mechanism which arenecessary for a proper understanding thereof;

Fig. 45 is a vertical sectional view of parts o! the inside restrainingVmeans of this fifth form of mechanism, the view being on the line 45-45,Fig. 43; and ,n

Fig. 46 is a detail cross-sectional view on the line 46-46, Fig. 44; and

Figs. 47. to 49 inclusive illustrate latch, and throw-out controlmechanism embodying a sixth form of the present invention, as used withan automobile door, Fig. 4'? being a vertical trans-,-l verse sectionalview corresponding in part to Fig.

8 and showing only those parts of this sixth form of mechanism which arenecessary for a proper understanding thereof; and

Figs. 48 and 49 are detail sectional views oi this sixth form ofmechanism, the views beingV on thelines 48-48 and I8-49, Fig. 47,respectively. f f

Before the present invention is described in detail, it is to beunderstood that such invention is not limited to the details ofconstruction and/or the specific arrangement of parts herein illustratedand/or described, as the invention obviously may take other forms. Italso is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology hereinemployed is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, there.being no intention and no desire to limit the present invention, asherein disclosed and as defined in the appended claims, beyond therequirements of the prior art.

As heretofore pointed out, the present' invention is applicable for usewiththe doors of various structures, but'v said invention isparticularly applicable for use with the doors of modern`dayautomobiles. For purposes of illustration and not of limitation,therefore, use ofthe present invention with automobile doors is hereshown and described.

Although the doorV control provided by the present invention may bealatch control only, or a throw-out control only, or a combined latch andthrow-out control, as will hereinafter more fully appeari theaccompanying drawings show, solely. for purposes of illustration,embodiments of the invention which provide a combined door latch anddoor throw-out control. However, as will later be explained, themechanisms consti- -tuting such embodiments may be readily modiiled, inan exceedingly simple and inexpensive manner, to provide a latch controlonly or a throw-out control only, if eitherof such types of` controlalone is desired.

Referring ilrst to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs.1 to 22 inclusive and in Figs. 26 to 28 inclusive, it will be noted thatthe mechanism constituting Jsuch embodiment includes a door latching(and unlatching arm III (hereinafter for convenience termed a latchal'm"). and a doorthrow-out arm II, said arms being either separatemembers or, as here shown, integral parts of a generally iiat bifurcatedmemiber |29 For cooperation with said arms in ,the control of theautomobile door Il, which is a left-side door having its front edgeportion hinged at I5 to the automobile body or frame structure I8, anysuitable means may be utilized, the means `here shown being a simple pinor stud member I8 (hereinafter for convenience termed a keeper Din")Although either said arms or said keeper Din may be associated with theautomobile door and the other associated with the automobile body, inthe embodiments of the invention here illustrated the latch andthrow-out arms are associated with automobile doors and the keeper pinsassociated with the 'automobile bodies. In this irst formof theinvention, namely, in that embodiment illustrated infFigs. 1 vto 22inclusive and in Figs. 26 to 28 inclusive, the latch and thrcwi-outlarms I0 and II are associated with the automobile door I4, adjacent asection 20 of its free edge wall 2|, and the -keeper pin I8 isassociated with the automobile body |6, ,adja.cent a. section 23 of itsedge wall 24, said door edge wall 2| a/nd said body edge wall 24 beingadjacent, and the sections 20, 23 thereof being in horizontal alignment,when the door is in closed position. f y

Instead of being associated with the free edge Wall of the automobiledoor Il, as here shown. the latch and throw-out arms I0 and II (or thekeeper pin I8) may be associated, if desired, with otherportions of saiddoor, and the keeper pin I8 (or said latch and throw-out arms)associated with other portions of the automobile body I6, as will bereadily understood.

`In theembodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to22`inclusive and Figs. 26 to 28 inclusive, (and in those embodimentsthereof illustrated in Figs. 36 to 42 inclusive, in Figs. 43 to 46.,inclusivefand in Figs. 47 to 49 inclusive), the latch and throw-outarms are located outside of the automobile doors with which such armsare associated, but suchk arms may be located, if de- `sired, inside ofsuch doors or-such arms may be otherwise suitably covered or enclosed.As will hereinafterjappear, in the embodiments of the inventionillustrated in Figs. 30 and 3l and in a Figs. 32 to 35 inclusive, thelatch and throw-,out arms are located inside the automobile doors withwhich they are associated.

In the use of an outside locationl for the latch and throw-out arms, theautomobile door and body edge wall `sections to which such arms and thekeeper pin` I8 are .adjacent may be oppo- -sitely offset, to providesuiiicient space for such arms and such keeper pin and yet maintain thenormal and more limited spacing between the other sections of such doorand body edge walls. As clearly shown in Figs. 5 ad '7, the door edgewall section 20 and the body edge wall section 23 are oset in suchmanner, the two edge wall recesses formed thereby together providingample lspace for the latch and throw-out arms IIJ and I I and for thekeeper pin I8.

Any suitable means may be utilized in securing the keeper pin I8 to theoffset section 23 of the body edge wall 24, with the longitudinal axisof said keeper pin substantially horizontal and substantially parallelwith the side walls of the automobiledoor |41 Although vthe keeper .pinutilized with the lpresent invention/may be oi such construction and itssecurement to the body edge vwall section 22 of such character that itis free L pin is here effected by the use of screws 25 and an anchorplate 21, (see Figs. 21 and-22), saidv anchor plate being carried insidethe automobile body and in contact withthe linner surface. of

its edge wall section 22 by a chambered sheet metal housing member 22welded or otherwise rigidly secured to such body edge wall section. Thekeeper pin here shown has a suitable base portion 2l of integral form,and the screws 25 extend through suitable openings in such keeper pinbase portion. the body edge wall section 22, the anchor plate 21 and thehousing member 22,

the openings in said anchor plate being threadedso that said body edgewall section may be securely clamped between said keeper pin baseportion and said anchor plate. If desired and as here shown, fibrousinsulating members 2l or the like may be interposed, forsound-deadening-purposes, between said keeper pin base portion 22 andsaid body edge wall section 22 and between such section and the anchorplatev 21, all as clearly shown in Figs. 21 and 22, for example. Inorder to enable the location of the keeper pin to be slightly varied, tocompensate for variations in automobile doors and in the hangingthereoffthe anchor plate 21 has limited edgewise movement in its housingmember 22,

and theopening's in the body edge wall section 22 and in said housingmember are, therefore. of somewhat larger sise than that of the threadedshanks of the screws 25, as shown.

y In this first embodiment of the present invention, namely, in that oneillustrated in Figs. 1 to 22 inclusive and in Figs. 26 to 28 inclusive,the bifurcated member l2, of which the latch and throw-out arms III andIl are integral parts, is mounted on the outer end portion of arelatively short stub shaft 2l, for which shaft any suitable support maybe utilized, the support 22 here shown for such shaft being ofplate-like form and, for convenience, is hereinafter termed a latchplate. As here shown, an intermediate portion of said shaft is' carriedby said latch plate, so that the two end portions of said shaft projectfrom opposite sides thereof, the shaft outer end portion lying on theouter side, and the shaft inner end portion lying on the inner side, ofsaid latch plate. Although the latch plate 22 may be located outside theautomobile door 14,. it preferably is located inside said door andthereby concealed, as shown, said latch plate being screwed or otherwisesuitably secured to the door edge wall section 20, in contact with oralongside the inner surface thereof. By loeating said latch platealongside or closely adjacent the dooredge wall section 20, the outerend portion of the shaft2l, and the latch and throw-out arms mountedthereon, are located outside the automobile door, the inner end portionof said shaft being located insidesaid door. As will hereinafter appear,the shaft 2l is oscillatable about its longitudinal axis, an axis whichis substantially horizontal and substantially parallel with the sidewalls of the automobile door I4. To properly support said shaft for suchoscillation, the latch plate 22 is provided withI a suitable bearingmember 22 for said shaft, said bearing member being of self-lubricatingmaterial, if desired, and being either carried directly by the latchplate 22 or, as here shownf-by a separate metal plate 24 welded orotherwise suitably secured to said latch plateand lying alongside theinner surface thereof, as clearly shown in .I

Figs. '1, 9, and 11.

Inside the automobile door and suitably'f'-. mounted on the inner endportion of the shaft 2| is a generally flat plate-like element 25,-saidelement lying alongside the plate member 24 of the latch plate 22 andhence being closely adjacent the door edge wall section 20. It desiredand as here shown, said plate member 24 may be provided with suitablespaced bearing projections rnot only for said element25 but also, forthe detent member to be hereinafter described. As clearly shown in Figs.7, 9, and 11, the bearing projections 25 for said element 25 are in theform of .curved and suitably spaced ribs, whereas the projections 21 forsaid detent member are in the form of simple and suitably spaced humps.As will be readily understood, the provision ofsuch projections not onlyreduces the friction produced by the movement of said element and saiddetent member along/ such plate member but also, provides suitablelubricant-receiving spaces between said plate member and said elementand between said plate member and said detent `means.

The bifurcated member I2 (the latch and throw-out arms) and thel element25 are rigidly `or otherwise suitably mounted on the shaft 2| formovement as a unit, so that movement of said latch and throw-out armseffects corresponding movement of said element and movement of saidelement effects corresponding movement of said Ilatch and throw-outarms. Inasmuch as the shaft 2|- is oscillatable about its substantiallyhorizontal longitudinal axis, the latch and throw-out arms (thebifurcated member i2) and the element 2 5 are oscillatable in planessubstantially vertical and transversely of the side walls o f said door.In other words, the latch' and throw-out arms and the element 25 varemovable in planes substantially parallel with the general plane of thefree ,edge wall section 20 of the automobile door, the general plane ofsuch door edge wall section being, of course, a substantially verticalplane. Due to the shut bevel of the edge walls 2| and 24 of theautomobile door and automobile body, a beveling" tion of the axes of thedoor hinges I5, the door edge wall 2| is not truly normal orperpendicular to the side walls 42, 6I of the door, but it issubstantially so, as the accompanying drawings indicate.

As will hereinafter more fully appear, the latch and throwout arms I0and Il are movable between a single predetermined operative position,shown in Figs. 1 and 2'1, and an operated position, shown in Figs. 18and 28. The single predetermined operative position of the latch arm I0is its door latching position, in which position said arm extendsdownwardly along the inner side of the keeper pin I8 and effectivelyyand positively maintains `the automobile door in latched condition. Theoperated position of the latch arm is its unlatching position, in whichposition said arm extends inwardly anddownwardly, with which said armextends downwardly along the outer side of the keeper pin l2, ready fordoor throw-out or door opening movement'. The opplate I2, a simple'`metal fastening "strip 44, se-

erated position of said throw-out arm is what may be termed its doorthrown-out position, the door having been thrown outwardly by said armto at least partially open position and said arm being inwardly anddownwardly disposed, as clearly shown in Figs. 18 and 28. y

In mechanism embodying the present invention, whether the door controlprovided thereby be a latch control only or a throw-out control only ora combined latchand throw-out control, means is provided forautomatically maintaining, the door control arm means in its operatedposition whenever the door with which suchr mechanism is used is open.Although such maintaining means may be of any suitable nature if themechanism is to provide a door, latch coni trol only, said maintainingmeans is preferably a power means of one kind or another if themechanism is to provide a door throw-out control only or a combined doorlatch and door throw-out control. With mechanism providing doorthrow-out control only, such power means may also be used to move thethrow-out arm from operative position to operated position, to

Veil'ect automatic throw-out or opening movement of the door with whichsuch mechanism. vis used,\and with mechanism providing combined doorlatch and door throw-out control,`

such as is here illustrated, such power means may also be utilized tomove the latch arm from operative position to operated position,`toeffect unlatching of the door with which such mechanism is used, and tomove the throw-out arm from operative positionv tooperated position, toeect automatic throw-out or I ment of such door.

In this rst embodiment of the lpresent invention, a generally flatspiral springv 40 is utilized not only as the means for automaticallymaintaining th. latch and lthrow-out arms in operated position when theautomobile door I4 is open,but also, as` the means for automaticallymoving saidnlatch and throw-out arms from operative position to suchoperated position, when unlatchingof the door and opening or throwoutmovement thereof are desired. For the acl complishment of those twofunctions,in this'rst embodiment of the invention, the spring 40 coactswith or is effective upon the shaft element 35, with the result that thelatch and throwout arms of said shaft are normally urged by said springtoward their operated position. In order to make the efficientaccomplishment of the two aforesaid spring functions simple and easy,the shaft element 35 is preferably provided with a cam surface 4I whichis constantly engaged by .the curvedupper end portion 42 of the springhere shown being on the outer edge of a leg portion 43 thereof. Thedesign of the cam surface of said shaft element is important, as saidcam surface not only should be of proper shape but also, of sufclentlength for the proper inward movement of the latch and throw-out arms totheir operatedposition. For the convenient assembly of parts, the spring40 is preferably mounted on the latch plate 32, as here shown,`themovement of the upper end portion'42 of said spring being in the planeof movement of the shaft element 35,'or in other words, in a planesubstantially parallel with the general plane of the door edge wallsection 20, as will be readily understood. Any suitable means maybeutilized in .mounting thespring 40 upon the latchs Opening mOVe- A curedin an aperture in such latch p te, being 'elj essential, the latch plate32 may be, and herev is, provided with a suitable guide 45 for` thetransversely movable uppeend portion 42 'f' the spring 40, the guidehere shown (Figs. 8 and 18) being merely a struck out portion of saidlatch plate.y

As will be readily understood, the operated position of the latch andthrow-out arms I0 and iIis determined by the extent of the inwardswinging movement of such arms, which in turn is determined by theextent of inward movement of the shaft element 35 with which such armsturn. 'Io yieldingly but effectively linut inward movement of the shaftelement 38, when the latch and throw-out arms have been swung inwardlyto the desired and predetermined extent, a suitable yieldable abutment,such as the rub-l `ber block 48 here shown, is provided for the legportion 43 of such shaft element. Although any suitablemounting maybeutilized for such abutment, the rubber block 48 is here secured to aside flange 41 with which the latch plate 32 is integrally or otherwisesuitably provided at its `inner side edge, said latch plate Vside flangeextending alongside the inner side wall 48 of the automobile door I4. Asclearly shown in Fig. 8, the rubber abutment block 48 is here secured tothe latch plate side flange 41 by means of simple tongues 49 punched outof. such flange, and to protect such abutment block from the force withwhich it is struck by the shaft element leg portion 43, under the actionof the relatively powerful spring 40, a suitable metal cap 50 may be andpreferably is clamped over the face of such block, as here shown.

Although the latch plate guide 45 for the transversely movable upper endportion 42 of the spring 40 may be used as a means for limiting outwardmovement of such spring portion, a separate limiting means therefor maybe utilized, if desired, such as the metal strip 52 here shown, saidstrip being welded or .otherwise suitably securedto the latch plate 32adjacent its outer side edge, as clearly shown in Figs. 8 and l2. 'Iheprovision of. means for limiting the outward movement of the upper endportion 42 of the spring 40 is not, of course, essential but it,

isdesirable, as such a limiting means effectively prevents undue orexcessively inward movement of the free edge' of the door I4, in theevent that the hereinafter referred to door-engaging bumper members |24become lost or fail for some reason or another to properly perform theirintended function.

When the automobile door I4 is open, the latch and throw-out arms are intheir operated position, said arms having been moved to, and beingmaintained in, such position by the spring or power means 40. During thelatter part of the closing movement of .said automobile door, thethrow-out arm II engages the keeper pin I8 on the automobile body, andwith said Athrow-out arm acting somewhat as a crank arm,` the nalmovement of the door to closed position enables said keeper pin and saidcrank acting" throw-.

latching thereof.

In order to enable the latch and throw-out arms I6 and il to bereleasably detained in their operative position upon the/closing of thedoor i4, notwithstanding the normal tendency of the power. spring tomove saidgarms toward their operated position, mechanism embodying thepresent invention includes improved detent means for such purpose. Inthe embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. l to 22 inclusive,the detent means is a generally flat plate-like member 55, pivotallymounted by the use of a suitable pin 55 on the latch plate Il, alongsidethe plate member 34 of such latch plate and just above the shaft element35with which said detent member cooperates in the .releasable detentionof the latch and throw-out arms when the door I4 is in closed position.

Although the detent member 54 and the shaft element 35 may be providedwith cooperating abutments of any suitable form and location, for suchreleasable detention of the latch and throwout arms, such detent memberand wsuch shaft element are here provided with cooperating edgeabutments or shoulders 56 and 51, respectively.

. Any suitable means may be utilized to effect detaining cooperation orengagement of such shoulders 56 and 51, upon the movement of the latchand throw-out arms to their operative position. For example, the weightof the`detent member 54 may be so distributed that said member has anormal gravitational tendency vto turn in -a counterclockwise direction,(Fig. 8), to effect detaining cooperation or engagement or its shoulder56 with the shaft element shoulder 51 upon the closing of the door i4or, if desired, spring means may be utilized, either with or withoutgravitational aid, to bring about such a tendency on the part of thedetent member to move ina counterclockwise direction. To insuredetaining cooperation or engagement of the shoulders 56 and 51 of thedetent member 54 and the shaft element 35, whenever the latch andthrow-out arms I0 and Il are moved to their operative position, notonlyis the weight of said'detent member so distributed that said member hasa normal gravitational tendency to turn in a counter-clockwise direction(Fig. 8) but also, suitable spring means 56 is utilized to cause saiddetent member to normally tend to turn in such counter-clockwiseldirection. As here shown, the spring means 56 is a simple wire springhaving its intermediate portion coiled about the pivot pin 55 for thedetent member 54 and having its end portions engaging parts of the latchplate 32 and said detent member.

In order to enable engagement and disengagement of the detent membershoulder 56 and the shaft element shoulder 51-to be easily and smoothlyeffected, saidshoulders may be of at form, (see Fig. 26) with the detentmember shoulder 56 the chord W of a circle X of which the detent memberpivot pin 55 is the center Y, (the lines Z extending from the center Yto such chord being radii of such circle) and with the shaft elementshoulder 51 parallel with the detent member shoulder 56 when suchshoulders are in detaining cooperation or engagement; or, as` hereshown, the shoulders 56 and 51 may be of curved form, with the detentmember shoulder 56 the arc of the circle X of which the detent memberpivot pin 55 is the center Y, and with the shaft element shoulder 51parallel with the detent member shoulder 56 when such shoulders are indetaining cooperation or engagement. Notwithstanding the forces tendingto maintain the shoulders .56 and 51 in detaining cooperation orengagement when the door I4 is' closed, namely, the

,force of gravity and the force of the spring 56, Y

'forces which .together normally tend to move the detent `member 54 in acounter-clockwise direction, Fig. 8, and the force of the spring 40which normally tends to move the shaft'element 35 in a clockwise'direction'. Fig. 8, (and which spring 40 must be powerful enough toeffect the movement of a relatively heavy automobile door to at leastpartially open position), disengagement of ,the shoulders 56 and 51,effected by release actu- Iatio'n or clockwise movement (Fig. 8) of thedetent member 54, is extremely easy to accomplish, the pressure of achild's little finger being sufficient, by actual tests, to operate thehereinample, it will probably be sufllcient to provide` such mechanismwith a single manually operable member for the actuation of the detentmeans of such mechanism to eil'ect 'the release of the door control armmeans thereof, whether that arm means be a latch arm, a throw-out arm orboth` In the use of mechanism embodying the present invention with thedoor of an automobile, however, two manually operablemembers for suchrelease actuation of the detent means are necessary, namely, an outsidemanually operable member and an inside manually operable member, so thateither a person outside or a person inside said automobile canconveniently effect the unlatching of the automobiledoor with which saidmechanism is used, or the-outwardly throwing of such door to at leastpartially open position, or both. Inasmuch as the accompanying drawingsshow mechanisms as used with automobile doors, each of such mechanismsincludes two manually operable members for the release actuation of thedetent means thereof.

Inasmuch as projecting door handles, which even present day automobiledoor locks still require, are wholly unnecessary with mechanismembodying the present invention, and inasmuch as such handles aredangerous (in that many severe injuries have been caused by them) andare more or less unsightly in appearance (in that they seriouslyinterfere with the proper and the complete streamlining of automobiles),no such vhandles are `used in those embodiments of the inventionv hereillustrated, the manually operable members for the release actuation ofthe detent means thereof being simple. push members, such as pushbuttons.

For the outside actuation of the detent member 54 of the mechanismillustrated in Figs. 1 to 22 inclusive, a push button 60 is provided,said push button being associated in any suitable manner with theautomobile door I4 and being so locatedk that its manual operation canbe conveniently effected by a person outside the automobile of whichsaiddoor is a part. As here shown, the push button 60 is associatedwiththe sheet metal outer side wall 6l of the door I4,Yadjacent the freeedge wall 2| thereof and just below the level of the pivot pin 55 forthe detent member 54. In such a location, the push button 60 is adaptedfor, and here does have, when manually depressed, direct operativeengagement with said detent member, which button and said detent member.

' said-push button being associated in any suit may be, and hereis,provided with a lateral flange 62 or the like, to facilitate suchngagement. Inasmuch as said push button engages or contacts with thedetent member flange 62 below the pin about which said detent memberpivots or swings, manual depression of said push button directly effectsclockwise movement of said detent member, (Fig. 8) with consequentrelease of the shaft element 35 and the latch and throw-out arms I0 andII moving therewith, as will be readily understood.

'I/lhe association of the push button 6D with the door outer side wall6I is here eil'ected by gamping or otherwise rigidly securing'the tuularcasing 63 for said push `button in a suitble aperture with which saiddoor outer wall is rovided, a nut 64 threaded onto saidcasing-cooperating with the laterally flanged outer end 65 thereof inthe clamping of the door outer wall therebetween. As clearly shown inFigs. '7 and 8, the push button 60 is not actually connected with thedetent member flange 62 but merely engages or contacts therewith whenmanually operated, at which times an operative connection is establishedbetween such push When the push button is in its normal position in saidcasing, the outer end of said push button is not only substantiallyiiushwith the outer end of its casing 63 but also, is substantially ush withthe outer wall 6I of the automobile door I4,vand any suitable means maybe utilized to automatically return the push button to its normalposition when manual depression thereofvceases. The means here AshownAfor such purpose -is a coiled spring 66,-arranged in the push buttoncasing 63 and surrounding the push button therein, the outer end of saidspring engaging the headed outer end of said push button'and the innerend of said spring engaging a metal vcross strip 61 with which saidcasingis provided, said push button being provided with a suitabletransverse slot 68 through which said strip extends. As best shown inFig. '1, the ends of the strip 61 are mounted in opposed slots 69 withwhich the said push button casing is provided, and to aid in theguidanceand the support of said push button in said casing, an annular member 10is here shown as suitably mounted in the inner end of said casing.around the push button therein.

By having the outside push button free of actual connection with thedetent member, and by providing the spring 66 to automatically returnsaid button to its normal position when manual depression thereofceases, the outer end of the push button `opening in the casing 63 (andhence in the door outer side wall 6I) is normally closed by said button,not only when the door is closed but also, when` the door is open.

As here shown, the outward sliding movementl of the push button in itscasing isv limited by the engagement of the headed outer end of the pushbutton with the laterally flanged outer end of its casing, and by makingthe engaging portions 1I of such button and casing outer ends of`annular and corresponding beveled form, an effective dirtv andwater-proof seal is provided. l

For the inside release actuation of the detent member 54 of themechanism illustrated in Figs. 1 to 22 inclusive, a push button 14 isyprovided,

- able manner with the automobile door I4 and being so located that itsmanual operation can be conveniently effected by a person inside theautomobile of which saidv door ls a part.l As

- here shown, said inside push button 14 is asso- `connected with saiddetent member, whenever that is desired.

Although such connecting` means may be of any suitable form, the 'meanshere shownk includes an elongated rockable or oscillatable ,memben suchas a rod 15, one end portion of which has operative connection with thedetent member 54, by the means and in the manner Ihereinafter described,and with the other end portion of which the insidepush button 14 hasoperative connection, as will also hereinafter appear. As clearlyindicated in the accompanying drawings, the rod 15 is substantiallyhorizontally disposed and extends along the innerA wall 48 of the doorI4, so that the longitudinal axis of said rod lies within said door andis substantially parallelY with such inner side wall thereof. V l

In the mechanism illustrated in Figs. l tof22 inclusive, a two-fingeredmember 16 is pivotally mounted on the latch plate 32, for oscillatorymovement along the inner surface thereof, the plane of movement of suchmember being generally vertical and substantially transverse to the sidewalls of the door I4 or, in other words, in a planesubstantiallyparallel with the general plane of the free edge wall section 20 of suchdoor.

For convenience in assembling mechanism embodying the present inventionwith a door or a. body structure, such as the automobile door I4, thesupport for the rear endportion of the rod 15, and the means foroperatively connecting such rod end portion with the two-fingered member16, are of such character ythat simple endwise movement .of said rod notonly is sufficient to vassociate or disassociate its rear end portionwith the support therefor but also, is sufllcient to establish ordisestablish operative connection of such rod rear end portion with saidtwo-fingered member.

As here shown, a pin 11, having a socket 18 (see Fig. 6) in the enlargedhead thereof, is used asthe, pivot pin for the two-fingered member 16,andthe socket of such pin constitutes the support for the rear endportion of the rod 15, said rod end portion being readilyinsertable intoand being freely` removable from such socket by simple endwise movementof said rod. Rigidly or otherwisegsuitably mounted on the rear endportion .of the rodk 15, for turning movement about thef longitudinalaxis of said` rodis finger 19, and by simple endwise movement of saidrod, the rearwardly bent tip 19' of such linger may be opera.- tivelyconnected with or disconnected from the notched or slotted free endportion of the finger of the two-fingered member 16, the other finger 82of which member has operative connection at all times with the detentmember 54, said detent member being provided with a suitable notch 83for the reception of such finger 82. The establishment of an operativeconnection between the

